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6.03.2009

The comments were turned off over at the Messenger for a bit but apparently have been turned back onbut, before you run over there and leave a pithy comment, understand that you have been given a stern tongue lashing by the new owner here.

He's definitely "old school" believing that the majority of the public is a cautious, deliberate, and a slow to anger body who believes in intellectual debate.
Yeah, riiiiiiiight. That's also why I post pics of scantily clad women every morning.
A friend of mine (who currently hates me), once referred to those who comment on Liberally Lean as "a band of monkeys." You know, that's kind of true. It's a freakin' circus of idiots, geniuses, racists, tree huggers, Ticket listeners, public officials, pro-lifers, pro-choicers, moms, dads, kids, spider monkeys, Christians, atheists, comedians, country folk, and the double fake everything.
But the potential for a civilized debate?
Nothing could be further from the truth.

An Internet comment board is nothing more than a high tech bathroom wall. Things people would never say in public will readily be scribbled in the privacy of four walls -- secure in their veil of anonymity. It's human nature. I accept that. I embrace that.
That being said, I haven't really set forth my very loose rules for comments on Liberally Lean. I easily approve 90% of all comments - maybe more. And by "approve", I mean I push a button that says "publish". It doesn't mean, obviously, I endorse a particular view.
So what will I not publish? Get your popcorn ready:

Don't drop an F Bomb

But what if you drop an F Bomb but hide one, two or three of the letters with a "&;" or "#"? You know, I change my mind on that on a daily basis.

I hate potty humor and don't allow it simply because I think it's stupid. Really stupid.

S bombs? Sheesh. I've let them through if someone writes a smart and passionate comment and then drops it in because he's so mad. But, generally, I'll block that.

Even I think it's silly that I have the rules on the F bomb and S bomb.

Derogatory statements about named individuals other than me? If they are private individuals, I think they should be off limits. If they are a public official/public figure and it's a comment of opinion, I'll let it go.

I'll let you criticize Wordkyle, MzChief, and Jarhead because they can take care of themselves. But I sometimes feel uneasy about that.

An exception to public official criticism: Leave prosecutors and judges in the county alone because if they get mad at me, I'll have to get a real job. If they get mad at me, my life becomes much harder. This exception is based on personal, good old fashioned American greed. "Greed, is good."

But even with public officials, I'll avoid statements of fact that I don't know to be true. I won't publish "School Board member Joe Blow committed an illegal act by stealing from the seminar training fund." But "Joe Blow is an idiot" would probably go through. It's a tough call sometimes.

Racist comments? For years, I've let those go through because that's been a pet peeve of mine. All members of the "white club" walk around saying "there is no racism in this country" when I know just the opposite is true. So I'll let the n-word go through to the comments just to let people know that racism is alive and well. But even I've grown tired of those comments.

Do I break these rules sometimes because I'm too lazy to read every word of every comment or I make a mistake? Oh, yeah.

Now I'm off to find the next Random Thought girl. I demand a civilized debate about her tomorrow morning or you will be banned.

I suspect the impression of racism based on comments on your blog is inflated by those anonymous posters who post them because they are eager to exaggerate how many racists there are. A very "non-scientific survey," you might say.

Well, that certainly provides some clear guidelines for conduct around here.

I all seriousness, I tried to craft a blog comments guideline for my blog, because I wanted to try and explain exactly what would get a comment deleted. It's easier said than done. I found that my post on the subject was even longer than this one, and if anybody bothered to read all of that before leaving a comment I'd be surprised to hear it. So it's shorter and simpler now, and basically amounts to an admonition to stay on the subject (broadly) and don't be hostile or abusive. I don't find that prevents people from leaving all-caps comments though.

"I'll let you criticize Wordkyle, MzChief, and Jarhead because they can take care of themselves. But I sometimes feel uneasy about that."

Do you feel "uneasy" about the blastings Mzchief unleashes on commenters? Jarhead and Wordkyle rebutt with dignity, but Mzchief is relentless and disgusting. Most of the time, the commenters are defending themselves from Mzchief's lashings. Get real, Barry...... Censorship is necessary, but do it for all, not for some.

To anonymous 10:08...Cite a single instance where I have fired the first volley at ANYONE. Typically, I address my comments to the issues on the blog and ONLY respond to someone who has leveled an attack at me or previously posted some steaming pile of bombastic drivel. Prime example is YOUR comment and YOU being a jealous twit who STILL cannot get over me being me and get on with you being you..

I suspect the impression of racism based on comments on your blog is inflated by those anonymous posters who post them because they are eager to exaggerate how many racists there are. A very "non-scientific survey," you might say.

And thanks for the vote of confidence. Unleash hell.

And on that note...

Is it seriously more believable that people are racist, or that people will leave racist comments to convince others that people are racist?

I expect most newspapers in general are really uneasy that the Internet is so popular. Audiences are younger and want information quicker. Some newspapers have gone under. It's sad, but likely a sign of the times.

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Great writing Barry - thoughtful and insightful - and as one of those despised "anonymous" posters (which is my right), I am very grateful to be able to post here and would expect you to delete one of mine if necessary. This is YOUR site, not mine.

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And as for Internet forums, the best ones have strict rules. Folks who go in and post elementary, idiotic and profane comments that get deleted usually are too stupid or lazy to read those rules.

I don't understand how using the actual F-word is any different than using F*@K? The individual letters put together mean nothing. It's the intenet behind what the word means that is offensive. Weather someone spells it out in plain english or hides behind special characters their intent is there. I think you should let it all through or not give them the satisfaction of still getting their idea through.

Barry - Since you brought it up, I would like to discuss your pics of scantily clad women. I really enjoy reading your blog. It often has updated facts and information long before the messenger website. I check your site frequently throughout the day. I personally don't mind your scantily clad pics. I find them somewhat humorous. However, I am a teacher at one of the local districts. It is pretty dang hard to read your blog at work with all those half naked pictures. If a student comes in my room before school while I am reading the blog, I have to quickly leave the site. Also, you have posted some good infomation before with videos or pictures that could be used as a teachable moment in the classroom, but I can't share it with my students because of your scantily clad women. Also, a few months back the internet guy came over to work on my internet. He asked me to open up a webpage to see if he had fixed the problem. I automatically clicked on your blog to find a woman with super ubber boobs staring at me. The Doogie Howser aged internet repair boy seemed a little taken back. I think I might have witnessed his first look at a woman's chest. It was quite uncomfortable for the two of us. Don't worry - I assured him that I wasn't into looking at porn. I explained that it is a local attorney's blog who apparently has too much free time and an obsession with well endowed chests. This could explain your increased site visits. The Doogie Howser age internet boy must have told his friends about your blog!

I am done reading this blog. And the Wise County Messenger. All this "civilized debate" nonsense and your rules of posting comments amount to nothing more than censorship.

People regularly use the "F-Bomb" (played by your rules for the purposes of this post); it might even be one of the most commonly used words in the english language, but yet you worry about all the little virgin Baptist ears out there. What a load of crap.

11:27 you must not have a job or be active in society. I don't know of many companies that tolerate employees freely using f-bombs. Oh wait, perhaps you allow that at your meth lab factory. Censorship is part of life. Imagien what the world would be like without it.

"I have only rejected on or two posts in the history of ever ~ and it was a long time ago." That's a bald-headed lie right there, jarlip.......you have not posted MANY of my comments, you chickenshiate..............